What to Drink Post Workout to Help Get Your Summertime Bod

A Smoothie a day keeps the summer bod here to stay!

Get Spoon University delivered to you

You tryna be tricky? That email doesn't look right.

By adding your email you agree to get updates about Spoon University Healthier

Summer is right around the corner, you what that means; more skin, less clothing! Exercising is an art in its own way, messy throughout the creation stage but a spectacle to look at upon completion. The University of Alabama student recreational center has a few group classes that are great for these last few months of attempting to get in shape. Smoothie King, located in the Student Recreational Center (SRC), has several smoothies to help smooth (see what I did there?) the transition stages toward your summertime bod goal that will make you want to get your workout on.

Whatever your poison, all the smoothies I’ve picked are no more than 300 calories. They're all infused with protein and fruit to rejuvenate your muscle-fatigued body.

Namely:

1. Slim Blends

If the beach is your destination this summer, try the HBG (hips, butts and guts) class offered at the SRC. More butt, less gut, that's the goal! This class is squat heavy and ABsolutely intense, so you’ll need to refuel what gut you may have lost. Try these vitamin-D elixirs that will give you the boost you need to walk back to your car when the class is done.

Slim-N-Trim

Orange-Vanilla

Calories: 208 (20 ounces)

Vanilla Protein Blend, Orange Juice

7 grams of Protein

If you’re not worried about your hips, the kickboxing class at the SRC will leave your butt on fire, not literally but close. The cardio in this class will get your heart rate soaring and into your fat-burning zone. Summertime can't come fast enough and with this class you'll get that look and physique you want. To keep shredding some unwanted flab, you’ll want to hit up this slurp. Notice the amount of protein in this one!

2. Wellness Blends

You may be one of those people who is namaste all the way and that’s cool too. This drink will allow you to relax from the day's end and be good to your body. This Japanese, powerful antioxidant is the treat you’ll want after you roll up your yoga mat. It not only helps calm your mind and relaxes your body, it also boosts your metabolism and burns calories! Let summertime come and feel the breeze of your efforts.

We also have that friend who never stops moving. They’ll ask you to go to HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) with them and you’re scared you won’t make it out the door alive. No worries, there’s a drink that will recharge your system and make you work through those heavy, rasping breaths. In a few short months you'll unveil your hard work, so hit up the cardio!

3. Fitness Blends

My relationship with indoor cycling is one I hate to love. I don’t hate the class itself but I do hate the line you have to wait on to get a pass at the SRC to take it. I don’t like to exercise my patience, just my quads. Without hesitation, it is my favorite class by far. If you push yourself, you'll burn some serious calories. With this class, you’ll need something to activate your legs after you get off the bike. Both of these are high in protein and low in calories!

The Activator Strawberry Banana

Calories: 270 (20 ounces)

Strawberry, Bananas, Coconut water, Gladiator

24 grams of Protein

Or:

The Activator Chocolate

Calories: 220 (20 ounces)

Bananas, Coconut Water, Gladiator, Protein Blend, 100% Cocoa

28 grams of Protein

4. Take A Break Blends

Hard cardio days call for rest days in between. TBS (total body sculpt) is great for toning your body without escalating your heart rate. Even though these days aren’t high-intensity cardio, they leave your muscles and core sore and this shake will give the punch your muscles need to recuperate!

It’s important to let lose a little and dance it out if you’re having a stressful week. The Daze class at the SRC is filled with people who want to exercise but also have fun with it. This class, though fun, will make you work a little with their salsa and Indian styled dance flair. If you like flavor, here's a drink that is low in calories and refreshing that will make your taste buds do the cha-cha slide.

Pineapple Pleasure

Calories: 280 Make it Skinny Calorie: 180 (20 ounces)

Pineapple, Bananas, Papaya Juice Blend, Turbinado

1 gram of Protein

I’ve never been coordinated but I have learned a thing or two about dancing; for the Hip Hop class, you’re either hip and know what you’re doing or you hop around and pretend that you’re on tempo… I’m the latter. Dance classes provide the exercise you need to get your steps in for the day and are vital “rest days” for your more rigorous exercise schedule. Since you don’t burn as many calories on these days, you’ll want to try a smoothie that is low on calorie and high on tastiness.